Yarn winding



April 4, 1944. H. s. COLE 2,345,587

- YARN WINDING Filed Sept. 18, 1942 Sheets-Sheet l HGI'O/d 51 0671101? 6 018 INVENTOR ATTORNEY H. S. COLE YARN WINDING April 4, 1944.

Filed Sept. 18, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hdl'Old SZOCQOIZ Cole INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1944 YARN WINDING Harold Stockton Cole, Seal'ord, Del., assignor ,to

E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 18, 1942, Serial No. 458,765

Claims.

The present invention relates to yarn winding, and more particularly, it relates to an improved mechanism for intermittently shifting the traverse stroke of a yarn winding apparatus.

The present invention has particular utility in the winding of yarn containing therein a quantity of wet sizing material.

It is important in preparing packages of sized yarn to apply the sizing composition to the yarn uniformly. Uniform sizing of synthetic linear polyamide yarn may be eii'ected in accordance with a copending application of E. W. Spanagel, Serial No. 369,951, filed December 13, 1940, now Patent No. 2,278,902 issued April 7, 1942, by contacting the yarn in its passage from the supply bobbin to the wind-up bobbin with an aqueous solution containing a suitable size, the sized yarn being wound while still wet with the sizing composition.

It is well known in the art that to wind yarn packages by a precision winding operation, the traverse guide or .button operated by the traverse mechanism is kept at all times in direct contact with the body of yarn being wound in order to insure uniform lay-down of the yarn by virtue of the fact that the yarn is always laid down at the position occupied by the yarn guide. This precision winding tends to eliminate the well-known phenomenon of overthrown ends or loops."

Where yarn is sized in a bobbin-to-bobbin sizing operation and is precision-wound while wet, the size tends to collect on the yarn guide and upon drying becomes a hard, abrasive substance which, because of its direct contact with the yarn on the wind-up bobbin, tends to cause broken filaments and yarn breakage.

Recourse is, therefore-had to a system where the traverse guide does not ride on the yarn but is spaced from it. This system introduces another difficulty, the irregularity of lay-down of the yarn at the ends of its traverse stroke due to the lag of the yarn in following the reversal of the guide. This condition promotes the presence of tuckunders; that is, the displacement of yarn windings and the tucking of such windings under adj acent windings. This is especially true in the case of synthetic linear polyamide yarns in which the filaments are round in cross-section and tend to roll and become displaced as the adhesive size hardens' Tuck-unders are especially likely to take place in the wet-winding of sized yarns because of occasional shifting of yarn windings on the wind-up bobbin during drying and tuckunders are particularly-serious in such a system shoulder.

teaches a process of winding yarn which com prises laying the yarn down at random at least at the end of the package. This is accomplished by using a full-stroke traverse and a traverse guide seated in a rocker. At the extreme ends of the traverse stroke, the traverse guide may rock toward the outside of the package or toward the inside of the package more or less at random; the over-all result being the formation of a rounded In actual practice, it has been observed that such a random motion is not confined to the ends of the traverse and the cake will develop a series of ridges so that the package so formed is not a level-wind package.

Since a level-wind package is not produced, the amount of yarn thatcan be wound on to the package is determined by the size of the highest ridge. Because of the random lay-down, this is variable. The result is that full advantage cam not be made of machine capacity and an uneconomical machine efllciency exists, uneven twistsetting results and an undesirable number of tiein knots occur in the final fabric.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for the winding of yarn with a traverse guide spaced from the yarn package during the winding operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for the winding of yarn containing a quantity of wet sizing material.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for the winding of yarn with a traverse guide spaced from the yarn package during the winding operation without producing objectionable ridges in the wound package.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The objects of the invention are accomplished, in general, by winding a yarn with a traversing mechanism comprising a pivoted yarn guide, which, by means of impact members, is made to change its angular position about said pivot whereby to intermittently shift the origin of the traverse stroke.

The packages thus wound will be free from ridges and will-permit the maximum amount of yarn to he wound on to each bobbin and will also permit the use of strip heaters in precise relationship to the yarn to dry the sized yarn if such is desired. The packages so wound can be unwound under a constant tension and with a minimum of yarn or filament breakage, especially when the unwinding takes place by an over-' yarn guide.

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of the yarn traversing member.

Figure is a diagrammatic bottom plan view showing the action of the yarn guide upon contact with the oscillating impact member.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral designates the frame of a winding machine. A rotating spindle l3 projects from the frame I l. A yarn support l5, such as a bobbin or the like, is positioned on the spindle l3 for rotation therewith. A yarn II] is wound on to the yarn support I5 to form the yarn p:ack-' age l1. The yarn is traversed axially of the rotating yarn support l5 by means of a traverse member 2| moving back and forth on the traverse frame IS. The traverse member 2| is reciprocated by means of traverse bar 23. The traverse bar 23 is reciprocated in a conventional manner by means of a groove cam 24 (see Figure 21'. A thread guide 25 is pivotally mounted in the trav erse member 2|. An impact member 21 is positioned adjacent the yarn guide at one extreme end of its traverse stroke. The yarn guide is also provided with an impact member 29 to cooperate with impact member 21 to move the yarn guide about'its pivotal connection. The impact member 21 is oscillated by means of rod 33. The cooperating contacting faces of 'impact members 1 and 29 are of sufficient area that upon contact between said members the yarn guide will assume an angular position on its pivot determined by the angular position of impact member 21 at the instant of contact.

As stated before,v impact member 21 is constantly oscillated by means of rod 33. Rod 33,

is supported by supporting plates 3| and 35, which plates are respectively fastened to the traverse frame l9 and 'the winding machine framel I. The supporting plate 35 is fixed to winding frame II by means of arm 31 and screws 39. The rod 33 is revolved in opposite directions by means of oscillating arm 43 which is attached by means of clamp 49 to reciprocating wire 41. At the opposite end thereof arm 43 is connected to rod 33 by means of tog le joint elements 4| and 45. The wire 41 is reciprocated by means of cam 51, cam follower 55, and bell crank lever 5| pivoted at 53 to the winding machine frame H. The cam 51 may be rotated in any desired manner.

The above-described apparatus functions in the following manner: A spindle I3 is rotated in a known manner to rotate bobbin IS. The traverse member 2| is reciprocated by means of traverse bar 23, which in turn is reciprocated by means of grooved cam 24. The yarn guide 25 .being pivoted to the traverse member 2| may take a varying angular position relative to its pivot point. The impact member 21 is oscillated by means of rod 33 which is slowly revolved in opposite directions by means of rotating cam 51 together with the interconnecting linkages referred to above. As the traverse member 2| is moved to the end of its stroke adjacent impact member 21, the impact members 21 and 29 will contact each other and impact member 29 will assume an angular position determined by the angular position of impact member 21 at the moment of contact. The contacting faces of impact members 21 and 29 must, of course, be of sufllcient area that upon contact with each other the contact face of impact member 29 will take a position parallel to the contact face of impact member 21.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, reference numeral 62 designates a pivot shaft upon which traverse guide 25 beyond about a 30 yarn guide 25 is pivoted to the traverse member 2|. The pivot shaft 62 is provided with an enlarged head 64 containing mounted therein a pin 66. The pin 66 prevents rotation of the angle in each direction. The pin will contact traverse frame l9 as shown. The traverse member 2| may be mounted in the traverse frame in any desired manner, for example, by means of a projection 26 mounted in groove 28 of the frame l9. The yarn guide 25 may be prevented from rotatin on its pivot too freely by providing a spring 68 between the enlarged head 64 and the traverse member 2|. This spring may be of any desired strength to impose on the yarn guide 25 the desired easeof rotation. It is generally desirable that the yarn guide 25 be rotatable with sufficient ease to take the position imposed thereon by contact of the impact members 21 and 29; however, the yarn guide preferably has sufiicient resistance to rotation so that the position assumed at contact of the impact members will be retained for-one complete traverse stroke and until impact member 21 by contact with impact member 29 again changes the position of the yarn guide.

The operation of thedevice of the present invention is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. When the impact member is in the position Y as shown in Figure 5, the impact member 29 on the yarn guide 25 will assume position T upon contact with impact member 21. When the impact member 21 is in the position shown by X, the impact member 29 on yarn guide 25 will assume the position S upon a contact therewith.

Although the present invention is specifically illustrated with reference to a reciprocating thread guide, any thread guide which is moved back and forth substantially axially of the thread package will be suitable for use in accordance with the present invention. The present invention is operative for use with any type of traverse guide used in the art. The invention is, however, particularly designed for use with'a traverse guide which is maintained spaced from the yarn package being wound.

The impact members 21 and 29 are illustrated as smooth-faced rectangular blocks. Obviously, the invention is not limited to such a particular structure; however, it is necessary that the contacting faces of the impact members have sufficient area that the impact member of the thread guide will assume the position of the controlling impact member 21. Obviously, the blocks may be made of any desired material such as metal,

.the direction of traverse.

2,345,587 fiber, rubber or the like or they may be composed of metal, fiber, wood or the like and faced with a softer material so as to eliminate unnecessary wear and noise when contact occurs between the impact members.

Although the invention has been illustrated with respect to the winding of a single yarn package, it is obviously not limited thereto. A single traversing mechanism may be provided for the winding of a plurality of yarn packages. One controlling impact member may control the position of one or more yarn guides. Furthermore, oneset of impact members may control a series of yarn guides connected therewith. In accordance with the above description, 8. pin 66 is provided to limit the rotation of yarn guide 25. -Obviously, other means for similarly restricting the movement of the yarn guide may be substituted therefor. Such a means for restricting the movement of the yarn guide is optional and not essential to the present invention.

In the above description, impact member 21 was oscillated by means of a rod 33 connected by means of linkage to reciprocating wire H. Any other desired mechanism for oscillating impact member 21 may be substituted therefor.

Furthermore, the degree of oscillation of they controlling impact member 21 may be regulated in any desired manner. Preferably, the angle of oscillation will be maintained within a 30 angle from a position perpendicular to the direction of traverse. It is obvious, of course, that the angle of oscillation must be maintained to an angle less than 90 from a position perpendicular to It is desirable that the two impact members be spaced a slight distance from each other, as shown in Figure 5,

y when they are in a position perpendicular to the direction of traverse.

The present invention may be used in the winding of any type of yarn whether dry or wet Or whether or not combined with other opera-" tions such as spinning, twisting, coning, and the like.

By the present invention a maximum amount of yarn may be wound on to a single yarn supcent the package being wound to dry the yarn during the winding operation. Such heating devices comprise strip heaters, infra-red lamps, high wattage bulbs and the like.

The present invention has been utilized to great advantage in the sizing and winding of nylon yarn; nevertheless, it should have equal utility in the winding of other natural or artificial filaments, yarns, fibers and the like.

. By winding yarn in accordance with the present invention, a yarn which contains a wet sizing material may be wound into a uniform package with smooth tapered ends free from ridges, loops and tuck-unders. Packages wound in accordance with the present invention may be readily unwound under constant tension with a minimum of yarn breakage.

Since it is obvious that many changes and modifications can be made in the above-described details without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details described herein except as set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a winding apparatus, a yarn support, means for rotating said yarn support, a traversing member, means for shifting said memher back and forth axially of said yarn support,

a yarn guide pivotally mounted in said traversing member, an impact member positioned adjacent the yarn guide at one extreme end of its traverse stroke, an impact member positioned on said yarn guide to contact with said' first impact member, said impact members having cooperating contact surfaces of sufficient area that upon contact between said impact members the yarn guide will assume an angular position on its pivot determined by the angular position of said first impact member at the instant of contact,

and means for changing the angular position of said first impact member.

2. In a winding apparatus, a yarn support, means for rotating said yarn support, a traversing member, means for shifting said member back and forth axially of said yarn support, a yarn guide pivotally mounted in said traversing member, an impact member positioned adjacent the yarn guide at one extreme end of its traverse stroke, an impact member positioned on said yarn guide to contact with said first impact member, said impact members having cooperating contact surfaces of sufilcient area that upon contact between said impact members the yarn guide will assume an angular position on its pivot determined by the angular position of said first impact member at the instant of contact,

and means for continuously changing the angular position of said first impact member.

3. In a winding apparatus, a yarn support, means for rotating said yarn support, a traversing member, means for shifting said member back and forth axially of said yarn support, a yarn guide pivotally mounted in said traversing member, an impact member positioned adjacent the yarn guide at one extreme end of its traverse stroke, an impact member positioned on said yarn guide to contact with said first impact member, said impact members having cooperating contact surfaces of sufficient area that upon contact between said impact members the yarn guide will assume an angular position on its pivot determined by the angular position of said first impact member at the instant of contact, and means for continuously oscillating said first impact member.

4. In a winding apparatus, a yarn support,

' means for rotating said yarn support, a traversing member, means for shifting said member back and forth axially of said yarn support, a yarn guide pivotally mounted in said traversing member, an impact member positioned adjacent the yarn guide at one extreme end of its traverse stroke, an impact member positioned on said yarn guide to contact with said first impact member, said impact members having cooperating contact surfaces of sufficient area that upon contact between said impact members the yarn guide will assume an angular position on its pivot determined by the angular position of said first impact member at the instant of contact, and cam-operated means for continuously oscillating said first impact member. 1

5. In a winding apparatus, a yarn support, means for rotating'said yarn support, a traversing member, means for shifting said member back and forth axially of said yarn support, a yarn guide pivotaliy mounted in said traversing member, an impact member positioned adjacent the yarn guide at one extreme end of its traverse stroke, an impact member positioned on said yarn guide to 'contact with said first impact member, said impact members having; cooperating contact surfaces which will coincide with each other at each instant of contact, the impact member on said yarn guide assuming the angular position of said first impact member, and means for changing the angular position of said first impact member.

. HAROLD STOCKTON COLE. 

